Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K11/00—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves
  • F16K11/02—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit
  • F16K11/06—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements
  • F16K11/072—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members
  • F16K11/074—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members with flat sealing faces
  • F16K11/0743—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members with flat sealing faces with both the supply and the discharge passages being on one side of the closure plates
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
  • Y10T137/598—With repair, tapping, assembly, or disassembly means
  • Y10T137/6011—Assembling, disassembling, or removing cartridge type valve [e.g., insertable and removable as a unit, etc.]
  • Y10T137/6014—Faucet type [e.g., domestic water use, etc.]
  • Y10T137/6024—Particular handle or handle fastening means
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
  • Y10T137/7504—Removable valve head and seat unit
  • Y10T137/7668—Retained by bonnet or closure
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
  • Y10T137/8593—Systems
  • Y10T137/86493—Multi-way valve unit
  • Y10T137/86509—Sequentially progressive opening or closing of plural ports
  • Y10T137/86517—With subsequent closing of first port
  • Y10T137/86533—Rotary
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
  • Y10T137/8593—Systems
  • Y10T137/86493—Multi-way valve unit
  • Y10T137/86815—Multiple inlet with single outlet
  • Y10T137/86823—Rotary valve
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
  • Y10T137/8593—Systems
  • Y10T137/87249—Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Definitions

• the subject of this invention is a delivery control device, intended to allow the control of the supply to several hydraulic apparatuses to achieve activation of these individually or in various combinations.
• a frequent example of this requirement concerns multiple shower installations, which generally include an overhead shower, a hand-held shower and one or more groups of side showers called “body jet”.
• the user should be able, via a mixing device for hot or cold water, if possible by a single or thermcstatic control, which supplies water mixed to the temperature required by the user, to supply one or another of these showers or various combinations of them. This can obviously be done by using several valves, each of which controls a shower or group of showers, but it proves to be a difficult and awkward manoeuvre for the user.
• switching devices are used, but the switching devices supplied by the known engineering industry do not allow a wide choice of combinations; usually the user may choose between supply to the upper shower or to the lateral jets, or between the overhead shower and the hand-held shower, while it is not possible for him to supply only the side showers, or to choose between different groupings of these, nor to have delivery from all the showers, or from various combinations of these.
• the known switching devices do not generally allow the delivery to be cut off. This has to be achieved by a less accessible, separate manoeuvre, while it would be useful for the user to be able to accomplish this easily, especially to cut off the supply temporarily.
• a second problem, which occurs for manufacturers of cartridges for hydraulic apparatuses, is that the purchasers, generally companies manufacturing taps and fittings, wish to apply to the control pins of the cartridges handles which they design or produce themselves, such as control knobs, knobs, long or short levers and so on.
• the means by which these handles are attached to the control pins of the cartridges are not uniform, and therefore present many different diameters and profiles, and require attachment to the control pins of the cartridges at distances which are also different from the body of the cartridges. This compels the manufacturers of the cartridges to produce each type of cartridge, intended for different purchasers, in several models with control pins suitable for receiving different handles.
• control pins of these cartridges must therefore in their turn be made in several different forms, while many other parts of the cartridges may be of uniform construction. Nevertheless, according to known engineering practice, the control pin of a cartridge is made in a single piece with an internal rotating element, of a more or less complex structure, and therefore the whole assembly consists of the control pin and the internal rotating element which must be made in different forms, thus entailing considerable cost.
• a third problem which often occurs in the technology of hydraulic installations is that of ensuring limitation of the maximum flow rate which can be delivered by the installation. This requirement can simply be due to a need for economy but in certain cases it is also required by the regulations.
• the main aim of this invention is to provide a rational solution to the first of the problems mentioned above by producing a delivery controller which enables the supply to be directed to each one of a group of delivery apparatuses individually, or collectively to various combinations of these which are more numerous than those permitted by a normal controller, or even, if necessary, to all the possible combinations of these delivery apparatuses. It is also an aim of the invention to enable a delivery controller to be produced which will also enable the delivery to be cut off. It is a further aim of the invention to enable a delivery controller to be produced by essentially simple means and at moderate cost.
• a second aim of the invention is to make a real contribution to the economics of production of such a delivery controller, especially in the form of a cartridge, to enable limitation of the costs mentioned above relating to the lack of uniformity of the handles.
• a third aim of the invention is to enable easy insertion into such a delivery controller of means of limiting the maximum flow rate of delivery allowed, when such a limitation is required or imposed.
• the first aim of the invention is achieved by means of using, in an apparatus or cartridge consisting of a delivery controller, a pair of shutter plates, one fixed and one moveable, in which the fixed shutter plate offers several peripheral delivery passage apertures, each of which having essentially the form of a sector of a circle and which together occupy no more than one third of the circle of the peripheral region of the fixed shutter plate, while the moveable shutter plate offers a single peripheral delivery passage aperture of a form which essentially corresponds to that of one of the delivery passage apertures of the fixed shutter plate and, in a position at least approximately diametrically opposed to this single delivery passage aperture, a collective delivery passage aperture of a form which essentially corresponds to the overall form of two or more delivery passage apertures adjacent to the fixed shutter plate.
• either the fixed shutter plate or the moveable shutter plate may also have a central inlet aperture.
• This structure can be produced at low cost and offers the possibility of positioning the two shutter plates in relation to each other so that the delivery can be intercepted; from this position and still rotating the moveable shutter plate in a given direction the delivery can be directed in succession individually to each of the delivery apparatuses and then still turning the moveable shutter plate in the same direction, the delivery can be directed collectively to two or more delivery apparatuses, in a succession of appropriately-arranged combinations.
• the number of delivery passage apertures in the fixed shutter plate it is possible to regulate any number of delivery apparatuses and to achieve any desired combination for collective delivery.
• passage apertures on the fixed shutter plate are crosswise, while the passage apertures of the moveable shutter plate mentioned above may be crosswise, since the moveable shutter plate is then linked to a rotating element consisting of a chamber which connects these passage apertures by establishing a seal towards the exterior, or these passage apertures on the moveable shutter plate may not be crosswise (or may consist of cavities) and be connected to each other.
• control device in the invention may be made either by mounting the parts directly in a body in the apparatus, or in the form of a cartridge intended to be inserted in the body of an apparatus.
• the second purpose referred to (which is of interest mainly when the control device is in the form of a cartridge) is achieved, in accordance with this invention, when the moveable shutter plate of the delivery control is connected to a rotating element which does not itself have a control pin, and which offers instead a means of connection, and when a control pin is made separately from the rotating element and offers an internal means of connection in addition to the means of connection offered by the internal rotating element, and an external means of connection suitable for the requirements of a handle for which the delivery control is made.
• these means of connection of the rotating element and the control pin consist of portions of the section which is not entirely circular, especially splined or prismatic sections or circular sections interrupted by projections, hollows or flats, which, when used together, can transfer a rotating movement from the control pin to the rotating element.
• the rotating element of the delivery control can be uniform, like many other parts of it, and offer a uniform means of connection, while the necessity of providing different control pins to satisfy the different demands of purchasers is satisfied by making parts which are different from each other and which carry only the control pins, and which all have the uniform means of connection to the rotating element, and differing in the characteristics of their form and external dimensions corresponding to those required by the handles for which the device is made.
• the higher production costs caused by the impossibility of having all the devices uniform are thus considerably reduced.
• control pin of the cartridge is such that it can be inserted into the rotating element during the assembly of the device, directed from the inside towards the outside, and it is fixed in its axial position by means of a fixing device such as an elastic ring inserted into the external part of the control pin after it has been connected to the rotating element.
• the third purpose of the invention can be achieved if required due to the fact that the control pin contains within it a plunger which by means of a threaded part can be arranged in an axially adjustable position opposite the central inlet passage aperture of the moveable shutter plate for the purpose of regulating the maximum flow rate value which can be delivered by the delivery control.
• Figure 1 shows in section a delivery control made as a realisation of this invention, in the form of a cartridge
• figure 2 shows a plan view of an example of a fixed shutter plate which can be used in the delivery control as shown in the invention
• figure 3 shows a plan view of a moveable shutter plate suitable for use in association with the fixed shutter plate shown in figure 2
• figures 4 to 11 show the two shutter plates, fixed and moveable, as in figures 2 and 3, one above the other and arranged in various operating positions
• figures 12 to 13 show in a similar way to figure 1 two other forms of embodiment of the delivery control as in the invention.
• the delivery control illustrated in figure 1 is made in the form of a cartridge which is intended to be introduced into the body of a hydraulic apparatus designed for this purpose, but the delivery control may be made by mounting the parts directly in the body of a hydraulic apparatus; the modifications to be made in this case will be evident to a person skilled in this field.
• the cartridge shown in figure 1 has a body consisting of two complementary parts 3 and 4, in which are housed a fixed shutter plate 5, which operates together with body 3-4, and a moveable shutter plate 6, operating together with a rotating element 17.
• This rotating element 17 does not itself have a control pin and instead offers a means of connection 16, which may consist of a toothed or prismatic area or even an area with projections, hollows or level planes which modify a circular section so as to make it suitable for transmitting a rotation, and which may simply consist of a structure of the rotating element 17, or it may consist of a metal insert applied to the rotating element 17. It is a particular advantage if the metal insert is formed at the same time as the rotating element 17 is made in plastic material.
• a control pin 18 made separately from the moveable element 17 can be introduced into it, during assembly of the device, going from the interior towards the exterior, and offers internal means of connection 16 in addition to those offered by the moveable element 17, and external means of connection 14 intended to receive the application of a handle.
• the connecting elements of the moveable element 17 and of the pivot pin 18 are shown as connected, and therefore are not distinguishable from each other and are designated by the same reference 16.
• the internal means of connection 16 of the control pin 18 may consist of structures of the control pin 18 or, if necessary and if the control pivot 18 is not itself metallic, they may consist of a metal insert.
• control pin 18 may offer on its exterior a ring-shaped seating suitable for receiving an elastic ring 15, or other appropriate device, which fixes its position axially in relation to the moveable element 17, while the positive rotation between these two parts is provided by the means of connection 16 used together. Therefore, once the device has been assembled, the control pin 18 behaves in the same way as if it were made in a single piece with the rotating element 17.
• the pivot pin 18, and this alone may be made in various forms and dimensions, so that the external means of connection 14 are suitable to receive the application of a corresponding handle, of varying shape, while the rotating element 17 with its means of connection 16 becomes one of the parts of the device which may be uniform in construction.
• the elastic ring 15 previously mentioned may not be present in cases where the means of connection 16 are shaped so as to be, on their own, capable of ensuring the axial solidarity between the rotating element 17 and the control pin 18. This may be achieved particularly efficiently when a metal insert, which constitutes the means of connection 16, is formed at the same time as the rotating element 17 is made in plastic material.
• the fixed shutter plate 5 offers a central inlet passage aperture 10 and a certain number of passage apertures for peripheral delivery, three in this example, 1 1, 12 and 13.
• Each of these delivery passage apertures 11 , 12 and 13 has essentially the form of a sector of a circle, and the whole occupies a total angle no greater than 1/3 of a circle.
• Each of the delivery passage apertures 1 1, 12 and 13 is intended to communicate, from the body of the delivery control, with one of the delivery devices which must be regulated, while the central inlet passage aperture 10 is intended to communicate with an apparatus which provides the water supply, such as a mixing device, possibly thermostatic.
• the moveable shutter plate 6 offers a central inlet passage aperture 20, a single peripheral delivery passage aperture 21 , the form of which is essentially the same as that of one of the delivery passage apertures 1 1, 12 and 13 of the fixed shutter plate 5, and in a peripheral position at least approximately diametrically opposed to the single delivery passage aperture 21, a collective delivery passage aperture 22, the form of which corresponds to the form of the entire outline of two or more delivery passage apertures 11, 12 and 13 adjacent to the fixed shutter plate 5; in this example, this corresponds to the outline of all the delivery passage apertures 11, 12 and 13 of the fixed shutter plate 5.
• the passage apertures 10 to 13 of the fixed shutter plate 5 are always crosswise.
• the passage apertures 20 to 22 of the moveable shutter plate 6 are also crosswise, and the rotating element 17 forms a chamber, sealed towards the exterior, which connects together the passage apertures of the moveable shutter plate 6. Nevertheless, in a way which is itself well-known, the passage apertures of the moveable plate 6 could also not be crosswise, or could consist of hollows and could communicate directly with each other.
• the above-mentioned central apertures 10 and 20 could also be absent if the incoming water is in any way carried above the shutter plates 5 and 6, for example by means of a lateral supply. In this case, the passage apertures of the moveable shutter plate 6 must be crosswise.
• the relative positions as in the subsequent figures are achieved progressively, by rotating the moveable plate 6 each time by an angle equal to the angular distance between two adjacent peripheral delivery apertures 11, 12 and 13 of the fixed shutter plate 5. So, in the positions shown in figures 5, 6 and 7 the single delivery aperture 21 of the moveable shutter plate 6 must correspond, respectively, with the delivery aperture 11, 12 or 13 of the fixed shutter plate 5. Therefore the delivery apparatuses respectively connected to the delivery apertures 1 1 , 12 and 13 of the fixed shutter plate 5 are supplied individually, in succession.
• the single supply to the delivery apparatus connected to the delivery aperture 1 1 is repeated, this time however by the collective delivery aperture 22 of the moveable shutter plate 6.
• the collective supply positions begin.
• the collective delivery aperture 22 of the moveable shutter plate 6 uncovers the delivery apertures 1 1 and 12 of the fixed shutter plate 5, thus supplying collectively the delivery apparatuses connected to these delivery apertures.
• the collective delivery aperture 22 of the moveable shutter plate 6 uncovers all the delivery apertures 1 1 , 12 and 13 of the fixed shutter plate 5, thus collectively supplying all the delivery apparatuses connected to these delivery apertures, or all the delivery apparatuses governed by the control.
• the collective delivery aperture 22 of the moveable shutter plate 6 uncovers the delivery apertures 12 and 13 of the fixed shutter plate 5, thus supplying collectively only the delivery apparatuses connected to these delivery apertures.
• the direct supply to the single delivery aperture 13 would follow, and it would then return to the intercept position.
• this rotation path may not be considered useful, and in this case it may be hindered by limiting the rotation of the moveable shutter plate 6.
• the single and collective delivery combinations which can be achieved are much more numerous than those allowed by a known switch.
• a trigger device 19 may be provided to assist the user in locating the various operating positions of the delivery control. This trigger device acts between the rotating element 18 and the body 3-4 of the cartridge to stabilise the correct positions selected, or of all the possible positions only those which are useful. Alternatively, if such a device is not provided, the user still has the possibility of regulating the flow rate of some delivery apparatuses by rotating the moveable shutter plate 6 so as to uncover only partially the corresponding delivery passage apertures of the fixed plate 5.
• Figure 12 shows how, because of the structural separation between the moveable element 17 and the control pin 18, the cartridge may be made so as to be able to receive handles of differing characteristics, without it being in any way different from the cartridge illustrated in figure 1.
• control pin 18 has within it a plunger 11 which by means of a threaded part 12 may be arranged in an axially adjustable position opposite the central inlet passage aperture 20 of the moveable shutter plate 6, so as to limit the maximum value of the flow rate which can be delivered by the controller, when this limitation is required or imposed.
• the structural separation between the moveable element 17 and the control pin 18 enables devices to be made with or without the function referred to above, simply by substitution of the control pin, even when it is not necessary to differentiate the means of connection for the handle.
• the invention is not limited to the forms of embodiment described and illustrated as examples. There are many modifications which can be made by a person qualified in this field, especially, as already explained, in the choice of the number and arrangement of the delivery passage apertures, but also, for example, in regard to the structure and production of the internal means of connection 16 and the axial fixing of the control pin 18. It must also be understood that the limitation according to which the delivery apertures of the fixed shutter plate may not occupy an angle greater than 1/3 of the circle relates to the possibility of obtaining a position of interception; this limitation becomes less restricting if an interception position is not required. These and other modifications and any substitution with equivalent techniques may be made to what has been described and illustrated without by so doing moving outside the sphere of the invention and the range of this patent.

Priority Applications (5)

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• 2000
  • 2000-03-07 IT IT2000TO000211A patent/IT1319941B1/it active
  • 2000-11-29 WO PCT/EP2000/011957 patent/WO2001066986A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-11-29 ES ES00985111T patent/ES2246917T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-29 EP EP00985111A patent/EP1266162B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-29 CN CNB008192995A patent/CN1324256C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-11-29 DK DK00985111T patent/DK1266162T3/da active
  • 2000-11-29 BR BR0017147-6A patent/BR0017147A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-11-29 JP JP2001565569A patent/JP2003526063A/ja active Pending
  • 2000-11-29 US US10/204,378 patent/US6789573B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-29 DE DE60022787T patent/DE60022787T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

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